Creating a Routine with Alexa and your Ring Device

Routines are a series of commands you can set your Alexa to perform when it is connected to a Ring device (such as a doorbell or security camera), usually triggered by an event such as motion detection. Routines follow a simple formula: when this  happens (for example, your doorbell detects motion) do that  (your Alexa could announce "Motion at the front door").

To get started, first make sure that you've integrated Ring with Alexa. See how it's done.

Create a Routine using Alexa  

Once your devices are linked, to create a Routine in the Alexa app for your Ring Video Doorbell, Security Camera(s), or other devices:

1. Open the Alexa app on your mobile device.
2. Tap More in the bottom right-hand corner.
3. Select Routines from the menu.
4. Tap the + icon to create a New Routine.
5. A screen titled New Routine will appear.
6. Tap on Routine Name and name your routine.**
7. Tap on When This Happens and tap Smart Home, then select the Ring device you are creating the routine for.
8. Select which capability you'd like to set up.
9. Select Add action, and then choose which action it completes.
10. To receive a push notification when motion or contact sensor is triggered, select Send notification.
11. Under From, select which Alexa device controls the Routine.
12. Tap Create.

Learn more about Ring security cameras

Create custom Alexa announcements for your mailbox

Thanks to the Ring Mailbox Sensor, you can now create specific, customized mailbox announcements on your Amazon Echo, Echo Show, Fire TV, Fire Tablet, or other Alexa-enabled device. Just link your Alexa device to your Ring Mailbox Sensor, then create a Routine in the Alexa app using the steps below to receive custom announcements letting you know when your mail has arrived.

Next, follow these steps to create a Routine for your mailbox in the Alexa app:

1. Tap the More icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right corner.
2. Tap Routines.
3. Tap the + icon to create a New Routine.
4. Enter a name for your Routine (for example, “you’ve got mail”).
5. Tap When This Happens, select Smart Home, select Mailbox Sensor, then select When Motion is Detected.
6. Tap Add Action and select Messaging (do not choose “Alexa Says”).
7. Tap Send Announcement and enter your custom announcement (for example, “you’ve got mail”).
8. Select All Devices (or select specific Amazon Echos from the list).

Create a voice command for snoozing Ring Motion Alerts on your Alexa device

Follow these steps to create a voice command Routine that can snooze alerts from your Ring Video Doorbell or Security Camera.

1. Open the Alexa app on your mobile device.
2. Tap More in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap Routines.
4. Tap the + icon in the top right corner to create a New Routine.
5. On the next screen, tap Enter Routine Name.
6. Type a new Routine Name (for example, "Snooze Ring Alerts") and then tap Next.
7. Tap When This Happens and then tap Voice.
8. Type out what you'd like your voice command to be, in this case "Alexa, snooze alerts".
9. Tap Next.
10. On the next screen, tap Action in the top right corner.
11. Tap Add Action.
12. Scroll down and tap Device Settings and then tap Do Not Disturb.
13. Tap On and select the Alexa devices for which you’d like to snooze alerts, or tap All Devices to select all.
14. Tap the box next to Duration.
15. Manually select how long you’d like to stop alerts on your Alexa device(s).
16. Tap Next and then tap Save in the top right corner.
17. Wait about one minute for the Voice Routine to be ready to use.